This Atlas of Movements of Southwest Siberian Waterbirds is a contribution to the knowledge of the migratory movements of Siberian waterbirds, with special reference to the Central Asian Flyway Action Plan, which was adopted in New Delhi in 2005, and which aims at a better protection of Central Asian waterbirds, and their habitats, based on sound ecological knowledge.
This atlas is based on an analysis of thousands of ringing recoveries of waterbirds migrating between Southwest Siberia and other parts of the world. In autumn, the majority of these birds fly in a south to south-westerly direction and spend the winter on the Indian sub-continent, in Southwest Asia, the Caspian Sea, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea basins and in Africa. Southwest Siberia appears to be of great importance as a breeding, moulting and staging area for a variety of duck species. In addition, the area also hosts many breeding and migrating waders, gulls and terns.